1-mile swim dedicated to Toshi Seeger

Friday

Jul 26, 2013 at 2:00 AM

NEWBURGH — The Hudson River Swim will hold a special poignancy in its 10th year, as it is dedicated to the memory of Toshi Seeger, wife of folk singer Pete Seeger. Toshi died this month at the age of 91.

MJ HANLEY-Goff

NEWBURGH — The Hudson River Swim will hold a special poignancy in its 10th year, as it is dedicated to the memory of Toshi Seeger, wife of folk singer Pete Seeger. Toshi died this month at the age of 91.

Participants swim one mile, from the Newburgh to Beacon waterfronts. The swim, which takes place Saturday (rain date Sunday), was Pete's idea to create awareness of the river, raise money to operate and maintain the River Pool at Beacon, and to encourage the next generation to understand the importance of the Hudson River.

The Seegers were supporters of the Hudson River and the River Pool at Beacon, which provides a safe and free cooling spot for local families.

"It was Pete's desire to see more people swimming in the river," said Akiko Busch, a River Pool board member. "He and a handful of early members were behind the first swim, which only had about 65 swimmers."

This year, she counts close to 190 registrants with a wide range of ages.

"We have had participants in their 80s and allow kids as young as 10 to take part as long as they have an escort and waiver signed by the parent and a note from a swimming coach that the child can swim the distance," said Busch.

The swim, for many, has become a way to mark a milestone. For example, said Busch, "People use it to celebrate a birthday, or some kind of passage, like the end of chemotherapy or the finalizing of a divorce. Swimming across and landing on the other side is like a new beginning."

Safety is a big issue for swim organizers. Every swimmer is given an electronic tag to wear for tracking. Also, volunteer kayakers are on the river and can alert the jet ski operator if a swimmer needs to come out of the water.

"We can't take walk-in registrations," said Busch, "because someone may just sign up impulsively without truly being prepared for the swim. The Hudson is a very strong river."

As a tributary, the Hudson is a tidal river with incoming and outgoing tides. The swim is scheduled at the exact time, usually around midday, when there is a slack in the tide or there is very little current.

Swim volunteers will watch the river closely the morning of the event to gauge the currents and at approximately 11:50 a.m. will get the swimmers on their marks.

On the Beacon side, volunteers greet the swimmers, assist with medical needs, offer food and beverages and provide bus rides back to Newburgh.

The $50 registration fee goes toward the event itself; however, swimmers also are asked to raise $100 that will go toward the River Pool.